Retailers ready for a fierce organic produce sales battle
Superior customer service is also crucial for turning stores into organic produce destinations, said Joshua Crone, retail programming senior manager for produce for National Co+op Grocers, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based retail food co-op with about 165 members that operates more than 240 stores in 39 states. National Co+op Grocers also generates product interest by staging promotions for specific fruits and vegetables, he said. It can entail merchandising 14 or more varieties of pears in regions that "are capable of producing that level of diversity" Crone said.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Florida's first H Mart finally opens in Orlando this month
More than four years after the outpost was first teased, H Mart announced this week it will open its doors in Orlando on Thursday, September 25, with a grand opening celebration. The store is set to be one of the brand's largest locations yet, sprawling over 100,000 square feet at 7501 W. Colonial Drive.
Source: orlandoweekly.com
Canada: How The Sweet Potato's Digs Dorfman takes the lead
Canadian Grocer reported: "Digs Dorfman has built one of Toronto's most beloved independent grocery stores, known for its high-quality, reasonably priced organic produce, by rolling up his sleeves - literally. In this Q&A, Dorfman reflects on the "biggest mistake" in launching the second store. He also shares the changes made as they've doubled down on the customer experience at The Sweet Potato's Junction flagship in Toronto's west end, which celebrated its 17th anniversary in early spring".
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: BJ's Wholesale Club members save 25% or more over grocery store prices
BJ's reported: "BJ's members save 25% or more over grocery store prices every day on everything from the freshest produce to meat to deli items and more. BJ's offers unbeatable pricing on popular items like: Baby peeled carrots (2 pounds) $1.79; Pineapple $2.99 each".
Source: businesswire.com
US: Bacterial contamination casts an ominous shadow over produce merchandising
Leafy greens such as lettuce and spinach are among the selections most susceptible to food safety incidents, said Matt Taylor, senior manager of food safety consulting and technical solutions at NSF, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based provider of testing, inspection, certification, and advisory services. "These items are often consumed raw and have structures that can make thorough washing difficult", he said. "They also grow close to the ground, increasing vulnerability to contamination from soil or water".
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Suja Life selects GoSpotCheck by FORM to transform retail execution with real-time sales data across 10,000 grocery locations
GoSpotCheck by FORM announced that Suja Life, a category leader in organic, cold-pressed juices, has selected its field sales application to improve retail execution across approximately 10,000 large-format grocery stores, including Kroger, Walmart, Stop & Shop, and Sprouts.
Source: prnewswire.com
Euro zone retail sales fall more than expected in July
Retail sales growth in the euro zone slowed further in July, raising doubts that healthy domestic consumption could continue to offset a hit to economic growth from U.S. tariffs, data from Eurostat showed. Retail sales in the 20 nations sharing the euro fell by 0.5% on the month, underperforming expectations for a 0.2% monthly drop, while sales were 2.2% higher than a year ago, below the 2.4% rise seen in a Reuters poll of economists.
Source: reuters.com
Norway: NorgesGruppen reports growth in sales in first half
NorgesGruppen has reported 5.6% growth in revenue to NOK 60.4bln (€5.1bln) in the first half of its financial year. The Norwegian retailer's profit margin for the period remained unchanged at 3.0%. The company's profit after tax amounted to NOK 1.8bln (€150mln) in the first half, registering a slight increase from NOK 1.7bln (€140mln) in the same period last year.
Source: esmmagazine.com
METRO Romania inaugurates new FSD depot in Bucharest
METRO AG reported: "METRO Romania has reached a new milestone in its strategic multichannel transfomation with the opening of a modern depot for Food Service Distribution (FSD) on the outskirts of Bucharest. The new warehouse facility, operating on a space of 12,000 m2, is the company's 1st ever standalone FSD depot dedicated to delivering efficiently to customers in the Horeca and independent grocery sectors, particularly the partners of the La Doi Pasi franchise network, in and around the capital city".
Source: newsroom.metroag.de
UK's Co-op Wholesale: "This is a partnership for growth, done right"
Co-op Wholesale reported: "Co-op Wholesale and Costcutter Supermarkets Group (CSG) have joined together in a new agreement. This partnership signals the start of a new opportunity, bringing the collaboration and strength of both businesses, to unlock greater value for independent retailers".
Source: linkedin.com
Aldi Hungary changes store hours, expands fresh produce and raises wages
Bernhard Haider, National Managing Director of Aldi Magyarország Élelmiszer Bt., announced that from mid-September, the opening hours of all stores will change: they will open at 7 a.m. on Sundays and remain open until 7 p.m. The company is also testing store redesigns: fresh produce sections and clear shelving systems make it easier for shoppers to find their way around. Fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, and flowers are located at the entrance, basic foodstuffs are in the first row, while paper products, cleaning products, and cosmetics are next to each other. Salaries in sales, logistics, and office positions were increased by 6.5-8% at the beginning of the year, with the next increase to be decided at the end of the year. Aldi primarily seeks to support domestic suppliers in Hungary, with a significant portion of its fresh meat and dairy products coming from Hungarian sources and 70% of its seasonal fruit and vegetable offerings also coming from Hungary.
Source: hungarytoday.hu
Lidl Switzerland names Bram van der Valk as chief customer officer
Discounter Lidl Switzerland has appointed Bram van der Valk to the newly created role of chief customer officer. Since the beginning of the year, the retailer has permanently reduced the prices of more than 800 products, including those of popular items like coffee capsules and fresh produce.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Australia: Coles, Woolies staff stuck in mass underpayment case
Allegations of rampant employee underpayment at Coles and Woolworths that affected almost 30,000 staff remain unresolved two years after a lengthy trial. The Federal Court handed down a judgment on four cases against the supermarket giants after a watchdog argued there was tacit approval of illegal conduct in many stores.
Source: 9news.com.au
Northern Cyprus reports August inflation at 3.35%, annual rate hits 35.42%
The TRNC State Planning Organization announced that consumer prices rose 3.35% in August, bringing the annual inflation rate to 35.42%. Vegetables saw the steepest increases, with tomatoes up 216.79%, bell peppers 136.43%, and charleston peppers 127.22%. The largest price declines were in fresh okra (-35.01%) and arugula (-12.12%).
Source: kibrispostasi.com